Introduction: Flapping Origami Crane

By My Etsy Shop!
This instructable will teach you how to make a flapping crane. I know there is already an instructable on a flapping crane, but this is a different type and in my opinion, has a better "flapping" motion. Impress your friends by making these with bits of scrap paper!

All that you will need is a piece of paper and scissors if your paper is not square. Please note that I used card stock paper for this project and that the flapping motion will be smoother with regular paper.


Step 1: Cut Your Paper to Size

If the paper you are already using is not square, fold one edge diagonally so it meets the other edge to form a triangle. Cut off the excess paper.

Step 2: Make Triangles

Fold the triangle in half to get a smaller triangle shape

Step 3: Make Squares

Next, take one of the triangles and open the layers to make a square. Squash the paper down and be sure to make the corners line up nicely. Repeat on other side.

Step 4: Make More Triangles!

Now you need to make creases for a future fold. take the corner of one square and line the side's edge up with the middle fold line. Repeat on the other half and other side of the square. Next, fold up the wide triangle on top over to make a crease. Last, unfold all the folds in this step to prepare for the next folds.

Step 5: The Tricky Bit

This fold is a little hard to explain and understand. Take the bottom corner of the open ends and use the crease of the wide top triangle to completely fold this corner so it is the "highest". At the same time, use the long folds to fold the outside corners towards the middle. Repeat this on the other side.

Step 6: Folding the Neck

This is an easy step. Just fold the new outside corners to the middle line and match up the edges. Only this time, you are only making these folds on one half of each side (be sure it's the corresponding half!).

Now fold up the long skinny part that you just made. Fold along the horizontal middle line and at the same time, fold the neck in half lengthwise, opposite of what it was before. I believe this is known as an inside reverse fold (if that helps). Roughly line up the neck to the previous fold layers.

Step 7: Folding the Tail.

Do another inside reverse fold, but this time line up the middle vertical line with the middle horizontal line to create the tail. This is basically the same as the neck, but the tail should stick out horizontally instead of pointing up.

Step 8: Fold the Wings

Make a fold from the corners as indicated in the photo and fold the wing down. Repeat on other wing. To make your crane fly more nicely, open up the back bottom layer of the wings.

Great job! You've finished!

Step 9: Make That Crane Flap!

Hold the crane as indicated in the photo. Gently pull the tail outwards and the wings will go down.

Thanks for viewing and enjoy making flapping cranes!